The Shinplaster was in the shape of a promissory note, made payable on demand.  I have often seen persons with large rolls of these bills, the whole not amounting to more than five dollars.  Some weeks after I had commenced business on my “own hook,” I was one evening very much crowded with customers; and while they were talking over the events of the day, one of them said to me, “Emperor, you seem to be doing a thriving business.  You should do as other business men, issue your Shinplasters.”  This, of course, as it was intended, created a laugh; but with me it was no laughing matter, for from that moment I began to think seriously of becoming a banker.  I accordingly went a few days after to a printer, and he, wishing to get the job of printing, urged me to put out my notes, and showed me some specimens of engravings that he had just received from Detroit.  My head being already filled with the idea of a bank, I needed but little persuasion to set the thing finally afloat.  Before I left the printer the notes were partly in type, and I studying how I should keep the public from counterfeiting them.  The next day my Shinplasters were handed to me, the whole amount being twenty dollars, and after being duly signed were ready for circulation.  At first my notes did not take well; they were too new, and viewed with a suspicious eye.  But through the assistance of my customers, and a good deal of exertion on my own part, my bills were soon in circulation; and nearly all the money received in return for my notes was spent in fitting up and decorating my shop.

Few bankers get through this world without their difficulties, and I was not to be an exception.  A short time after my money had been out, a party of young men, either wishing to pull down my vanity, or to try the soundness of my bank, determined to give it “a run.”  After collecting together a number of my bills, they came one at a time to demand other money for them, and I, not being aware of what was going on, was taken by surprise.  One day as I was sitting at my table, strapping some new razors I had just got with the avails of my “Shinplasters,” one of the men entered and said, “Emperor, you will oblige me if you will give me some other money for these notes of yours.”  I immediately cashed the notes with the most worthless of the Wild Cat money that I had on hand, but which was a lawful tender.  The young man had scarcely left when a second appeared with a similar amount, and demanded payment.  These were cashed, and soon a third came with his roll of notes.  I paid these with an air of triumph, although I had but half a dollar left.  I began now to think seriously what I should do, or how to act, provided another demand should be made.  While I was thus engaged in thought, I saw the fourth man crossing the street, with a handful of notes, evidently my “Shinplasters.”  I instantaneously shut the door, and looking out of the window, said, “I have closed business for the day:  come